Clinical nursing
Ostomy and stoma care
Most people manage their own stoma well within a couple of months. Getting there is much easier with a nurse alongside at the start.
What this involves
- Appliance changes and correct template sizing
- Peristomal skin assessment and treatment
- Leakage troubleshooting and accessory selection
- Stoma output monitoring and hydration advice
- Support with dietary adjustment after surgery
- Teaching towards independent self-care
When people ask us for this
- A stoma is new and the household is finding its feet
- Repeated leaks or appliances that will not stay sealed
- Sore, broken or weeping skin around the stoma
- The stoma has changed shape or size since surgery
- Dexterity or eyesight makes self-care difficult
How we approach it
Almost every early stoma problem traces back to fit. A stoma changes size in the weeks after surgery, so a template cut once at the hospital will not keep working. We re-measure and re-cut, and leaks usually stop.
Skin around the stoma is the other half of the job. Once it is broken, appliances stop adhering, which causes more leaks and more damage. We treat the skin and adjust the products rather than adding more adhesive.
The goal is independence. Most people we start with are managing their own changes before long, with us stepping back to occasional review.
How this is usually funded
The nursing is the same whichever pathway pays for it.
- DVA community nursing, for eligible veterans, war widows and widowers, with a GP referral
- Government-funded aged care support at home
- Private arrangements, with transparent hourly rates and no waiting list
- Short-term packages after a hospital discharge
Other nursing services
Ready to arrange care for someone you love?
Call for a friendly chat, or send a referral and we will be in touch within one business day.
